I live in a place that is warm and sunny most of the year so beach towels are a staple in my household.

Still, every June I get excited to replace last years sun bleached models for some fresh new ones.  That means I usually have to replace about four, as nearly all of them my son and his friends left at the beach, pool or some motel we stayed at.

I’ve observed that most kids don’t mind carrying them to the beach pool etc…  It’s the start of an exciting day.  Coming home is another story.  It’s like dragging a sled to the top of a snow covered hill then whizzing down it, and after six or seven times, no one wants to drag the sled back up the hill.

Same principle.

A cleaver solution to this problem is The Beach Towel Bag By Confetti. This standard size towel, which measures 30 by 60 when open, converts to a cool messenger bag they can wear across their body when it’s time to leave. The fashionable zip around design makes it easier for them to carry the towel home at the end of the day and the novel idea of it will help them remember to bring it home. (Hopefully)

It comes in a couple of different colorful designs, and even has a cute little key chain attached. (Think motel key!)

There are some things in my house that are not negotiable.  One of these includes my son wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle – it’s non-negotiable!

Too bad my son can’t ride a bike yet. But he is perfectly willing to put on a helmet as he attempts to maneuver his two-wheeler (still with training wheels) around the driveway.

This request gets a bit trickier as they grow up.  According to the The Consumer Product Safety Commission, cyclist’s ages five through fourteen have the highest injury rate of all riders and approximately one third of injuries are head related.  In a survey conducted by this commission, most kids reported they did not like to wear a helmet because of the way they looked in it.  (“Nerdy” was one of the objections))

Today, there are so many styles to choose from you are sure to find one your child or teen will wear. My 16-year-old nephew is a serious cyclist and the one he currently wears is the Giro Saros Livestrong Bike Helmet. It boasts a 4-fit system so even little kids can wear it, and twenty-three air vents to keep heads cool and dry. This helmet offers the ultimate protection for their head with its added roll cage protection.  Best of all, the cool black and yellow design reminds everyone they’re sporting the same one the champion wears.

It’s excellent for scooter riding, too. (Razor Pro Model Scooter)

With summer almost upon us, I feel obliged to share some important information with you.

We are all aware of how good water is for us and how essential it is to keep hydrated during the warmer months.  But did you know that dashing into the convenience store to grab your child a bottled - water on their way to soccer practice because she left thers at home can be potentially dangerous?

The Precidio Pink Polka Dot Aluminum Water Bottle is BPA- free (So important because of the many toxic risks associated when heating or cooling plastic) and because it’s made of aluminum, it won’t change the taste of whatever you put in it.  Drinks stay cold for hours and the built in hang -tag allows you to easily attach it to their belt loop, sports bag or shorts.

These clever containers are available in a variety of different designs, including a cool geometric pattern that boys will like. This makes a thoughtful gift for a summer birthday or even  High School graduation.

Teaching our kids to take care of their health as well as the environment is a good thing and introducing products like reusable bottles is a great opportunity to do just that.   (They’re fun, too!)

I love summer. Actually I love anytime I can work in my garden.

Several years ago, I was blessed with a little helper and that has made it that much more enjoyable.  It is really a great way to teach my son how the fruits and vegetables he likes are grown. He really gets in to digging in the soil (Getting dirty, of course) and planting the juicy tomatoes and bright green peppers we savor each year.

That’s why I like Angela’s Garden Kids Garden Collection Set.

This has everything you need to help develop a young gardener.  Kid friendly tools made especially for little hands, a useful tote to carry them in and even a sun hat and apron. (Just remember, they like to get dirty!)

We walk to the nearest nursery, he with his tote and I with my wallet and decide what we should grow each year.  With tiny plants and a few packets of seed tucked in it, we race home to get them in the ground.   We even started composting.

This set comes in a couple different patterns including Camo for the macho gardener.

They’ll have so much fun with this you may even ask to borrow it yourself!

It’s official my little boy likes baseball.  After months of begging him to play soccer or continue his swim lessons he has finally found his niche. As it turns out, he can’t hit.

Well I called my sister for some advice, and she informed me that after YEARS of playing, my nephew couldn’t hit either.  As a matter of fact, no one on his team can hit.

Perhaps the Fisher Price Triple Hit Baseball Set is what they need.

For a very small investment, your kids can practice actually hitting the ball, which will magically transport him to the big leagues where he will make gobs of money and take care of you for the rest of your life. Hmmm, maybe not, but at any rate he’ll get plenty of practice in without having to run to the batting cages all the time. ( And it’s a great way to get them out of the pool after playing for hours with their poolside basketball hoop.)

This set includes a bat; balls and 3 modes. Little ones hit from a tee, and as they improve they can use the pop up mode or auto pitch for a more challenging workout. This is similar to what the pros use and helps develop great hand eye coordination.

For beginners to more advanced players, it’s a hit